TCM for Low Back Pain

I read an interesting note in a WebMD article the other day: back pain is the #1 reason people turn to acupuncture. And while they didn't really back that up, as an acupuncturist, it certainly feels true.

It makes sense, too. Acupuncture has been proven effective for chronic low back pain. A review of 22 studies found that acupuncture provides short-term relief and should be used as an alternative to traditional treatments that haven't worked. Pretty great, right? We also know acupuncture is effective for reducing inflammation, which is a common cause of chronic low back pain.

But most importantly, your lower back is closely related to your kidneys, and stagnant or blocked Qi is often the cause of low back pain. Think of a fallen tree blocking the flow of a stream. The water isn't meant to be stopped, so it floods the area on one side and starves the other. The stream has lost its balance. Your Qi functions much the same way, flowing through your body and keeping it balanced. When Qi is unbalanced, acupuncture helps it flow freely through the channels.

Of course, every person is different. Your chronic low back pain and how we treat it are unique to you. But you can expect to be treated using a few different points—likely the back of your knees and on both sides of your lower back.

In health and wellness,
Julie